Hope

     Okay friends, I am going to keep this one short and sweet (it's very late here and it's been a refreshing, but long day). Yesterday, I had the privilege of traveling to a fishing village to begin English classes for a group of villagers there. We plan to go every Saturday, and it seems like our adults will be very quick learners! It's refreshing to be on the other end of the language-learning! ;) The ability of so many of my Haitian friends to quickly learn English is humbling and serves as motivation to my language practice (Haitian Kreyole is much, much more simple in structure than English....I wouldn't want to learn English!)
     This morning, we were invited to attend my dear friend Simeon's Haitian church. Everyone was so welcoming, and I even tried my hand at reading/singing French and Kreyole hymns! (of course Simeon and I were the only ones who heard my efforts, and I eventually gave it up so that he could worship...rather than laugh at me) :) Then we attended our very own English-speaking Church, where nearly 3 of our kids fell asleep on me. The rest of the afternoon, Jenn and I played nannies at Club Indigo (a beach hotel where a missionary couple is living). The afternoon was wonderful! We watched the kids by the pool, sat on the beach, and I became a lobster. :) God's way of reenergizing us for the weeks ahead, and boy was it appreciated!
   Above all, God has been using this trip to enrich the hope that is in my heart for Haiti. After my last trip to Haiti, my prayer was for the church to be stirred into men's ministry. That men of God, faithful to their wives and devoted to their families, would rise up as leaders and restore the future generation. My prayer was for hope. Each day I am here, God has been revealing to me just that! Tonight, Jenn and I had the privilege of fellowshipping with Franz (the "dad" of the orphanage) and Simeon (the selfless brother). What began with laughter and jokes ended, nearly 3 hours later, with broken hearts for a broken country...but we serve a God who is bigger than brokenness. :) It was beautiful to hear the wisdom that these two men received from the Lord! We discussed broken families, hurting wives, and abandoned children in ways that took me 4 years of Sociology to understand! All they had to do was look around, and the answers were clear: Love God, Love people...Agape! I could get on my faith-filled, sociology soap box, but instead, I'll just bid you adieu. :) There is hope for Haiti....if you don't believe me, book a flight...

So much for short and sweet!!! Please pray in the power of Christ for:
           * New Vision Ministries as they are undergoing major changes and new partners.
           * That the hope that lives here would speak loudly and boldly for the Kingdom's sake.
           * For the missionary children who live with us here. This makes 6 weeks so far in Haiti, and they will continue to process and experience in their own unique ways. Pray for God's Agape love to speak clearly to them though their family and for patience through their adjustment.

Forever Learning

     Have I mentioned God keeps life interesting? I went to school to study Sociology, God brought me to Haiti to keep me a learner. :) the past few days I've been administering breathing treatments and holding sick babies, as the fever bug is making it's way rapidly around the orphanage. I learned how to test blood sugar, and give insulin shots 3x a day to Wilencia, a 12-yr-old girl who was brought to the orphanage after Dr. Tom diagnosed her with diabetes. She has been so patient with me as I try to minimize the pain, despite my shaky hands...I think I was more afraid than she was my first time! I also spent the past 2 days creating a preschool room from the bottom up! My roommate

Jennifer and I have offered to teach the 3 youngest while the older children are away at "big" school. Our goal is to encourage their English in the classroom, as none of the children at New Vision currently know it. 

     Jenn and I have also been given the task of finding creative ways to encourage the Haitian women on staff in proactive work ethic. In the past 2 days, I've noticed tremendous changes in sanitation and cleanliness around our children. Our prayer is that, while dust is unavoidable here, the bar will be raised on the things we can control, simply because all children deserve a safe living environment.

      Today we spent some time sorting pills and preparing for a clinic in the mountains tomorrow. I'm excited to see more of Haiti and to assist the Dr, the Optomotrist, and the Pharmacist in their mission. There is also a little boy here named Mishelet who is living with an enlarged skull and clubbed feet. He used to sit in a wheel chair all day, often ignored, and rarely spoke. The past few days, jenn and I have been taking him out of his chair and into our new preschool room to stretch and play. Now, Mr. English-speaking jabber jaws army crawls across the floor, and has the cutest giggle!!! His motor skills and coordination have improved drastically, and he's become so happy and talkative! Praise God for restoration and the joy of a child!

     I had a friend named Franz share his beautiful testimony with us today, which turned this tough cookie into a cried. I also learned that 4 of the older girls accepted Christ into their hearts last night! We are going to begin a bible study with them each night, as we celebrate their new walk with the Lord! 

   Well, I better get some sleep; we leave at 6 for the mountains tomorrow. For all of my prayer warriors, please join me on behalf of:

          * Michelet's physical and emotional progress though love and attention.

          * The girls who recently gave their lives to the Lord, that they would be dependent upon Him  and examples to the other children here.

          * The men of Haiti; that God would raise leaders, loyal husbands, and devoted fathers.

          * The wisdom and safety of our team and children, as alcoholism has been an issue with our neighbors and even amongst officials.

Thank you Zanmi (friend), from all of us here! It is my confidence in your support and in the Agape love of God that encourages me to press onward for the Kingdom!

     

       

     

The Journey Begins!

     Well, I woke up at the buttcrack of dawn and made it to the airport with ample time to spare (thanks to my awesome big brother!) and dreamt my way to Dallas. From there, I practically walked right onto my next flight, after a tram malfunction, of course! ;) Luckily, I serve a God not bound by time, and I managed to make it onto my flight to Florida just in the nick of time! I wish you could have seen me, smack dab in the middle of a college football team that had just won the 1st place trophy the night before....needless to say folks, you don't need to leave the country to experience adventure; Simply obey His commands, and you'll never see endure a dull moment. :)
     I've never been back to the same exact foreign place before, and it was incredible how much more smoothly everything went! I was familiar with what customs would entail, and I wasn't at all surprised by the "fend for yourself" baggage claim. I even stood my ground in Creole when the suitcase-carrying brigade bombarded me at the exit. Even more noteworthy, I saw a familiar smiling face at the end of the exit underpass! Tall, beaming Wysner (sp?) met my eyes and immediately began jumping and laughing! Neither one of us knew who to expect...he was apparently sent to pick up the American in Port, lol.
     With him was a missionary couple who left their careers in optometry and pharmaceuticals to serve the Haitian community. I felt like I'd known them forever, and I had the privilege of being a passenger during his first driving experience in Port (he drove like a true Haitian, I might add!). 3hrs and dozens of Wysner stand-up comedy later, we arrived at the New Vision Orphanage. There I reunited with another missionary family I had met this summer, as well as my new roommate Jenn! Jenn arrived 2 days ago, and this is her first time leaving the country! She is 17 and has an incredible heart! We've not stopped talking since i arrived, and i can tell this is the beginning of a b-e-a-utiful friendship! I also got to meet the kids for a short time! They were intensely watching Peter
Pan, but i was able to steal the attention of 3 of them for about a minute ;) haha! I feel right at home...

Friends, I am going to try to blog as often as possible, Internet willing, but please let me know if you have any questions I can address! If you would continue to be in prayer for :
     * The fever is going around at the orphanage, already infecting 4. Pray for healing and wisdom.
     * Continued accommodation to the culture and language (the kids don't yet speak english)
     * Ministering to women through a beading ministry tomorrow. Please pray for intentionality and opportunity!

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! I'm praying for you as well :)

The Final Countdown

 Agape: Greek term referring to the love from God for His people. This love is intended to be reciprocated back to God, as well as sacrificially unto our fellow man. 

    This summer, the Lord called me and enabled me to spend a month and a half in the captivating country of Haiti. A brilliant blend of the other countries I've explored, Haiti soon felt like my home away from home. From walking to the market and riding tap-taps into town, to hand-washing clothes every Saturday with Loveline and learning to cook Haitian cuisine with S'Edna...every day was an adventure! I even learned to speak Kreyol with my new friends, who were quite the match for my sarcastic sense of humor!
     Though I went with the plan to invest in a single orphanage, God surprised me with the opportunity to visit a school, 4 clinics, 4 churches, build relationships at 3 different orphanages, participate in a weekly prison ministry and, unfortunately, attend 2 funerals. "Now to Him, who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" Ephesians 3:20-21. I serve a God who "causes all all things to work together good, for those who are called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28.
     As I write, I am in the final countdown as I prepare to move back to Montrouis, Haiti. I will be living at an orphanage through New Vision Ministries (run by missionaries I met during my first Haitian adventure). While there, I will likely be managing their child sponsorship program, which enables nearly 200 children in the Montrouis area to receive an education. Would you consider partnering with me, through prayer, on this agape adventure?!
     Please pray for:
          * The peace of Christ for my family as I am away
          * Willing sponsors for the children of Montrouis
          * Financial provision for plane tickets
          * Patience and flexibility as I readjust to the culture and language

Click to view New Vision's link!